Rhinitis relief device

Abstract

A device for applying a mixture of air and vapor to the nasal mucous membrane at temperatures not exceeding 47° C. comprising a water reservoir; a steam generating means within the reservoir; gas inlet means for the inlet of the gaseous medium; an outlet conduit for conducting a mixture of gas and steam away from said water reservoir, said outlet means including a first end and a second end, said first end of said outlet conduit including an outlet means for said gas stream mixture; a hollow mixing space between said gas inlet means and said second end of said outlet conduit means; a pressure-equalizing and water drainage opening connecting between said hollow mixing space and said water reservoir; and a steam outlet opening separate from said pressure-equalizing and water drainage opening and communicating with said steam generating means, positioned within said hollow mixing space and having a hydraulic diameter such as to allow outflow of steam under its own vapor pressure, whereby said steam is injected into said hollow mixing space and mixed with said gaseous medium therein and a substantially homogeneous mixture of said steam and said gaseous medium is delivered to said second end of said outlet conduit means.

What we claim is: 
     
       1. A Rhinitis relief device comprising: a. a substantially enclosed water reservoir;   b. steam generating means within said water reservoir;   c. gas inlet means for the inlet of a gaseous medium;   d. outlet conduit means for conducting a mixture of gas and steam away from said water reservoir, said outlet conduit means including a first end and a second end, said first end of said outlet conduit means including an outlet means for said gas-steam mixture;   e. a hollow mixing space between said gas inlet means and said second end of said outlet conduit means;   f. a pressure-equalizing and water drainage opening connecting between said hollow mixing space and said water reservoir; and   g. a steam outlet opening separate from said pressure-equalizing and water drainage opening and communicating with said steam generating means, said steam outlet opening positioned within said hollow mixing space and having a hydraulic diameter such as to allow outflow of steam under its own vapour pressure, whereby said steam is injected into said hollow mixing space and mixed with said gaseous medium therein, and a substantially homogeneous mixture of said steam and said gaseous medium is delivered to said second end of said outlet conduit means.   
     
     
       2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said gas inlet means comprises an air flower. 
     
     
       3. The device according to claim 1, wherein said steam generating means comprises an outer casing including openings for the free flow of water from said water reservoir into said outer casing, and electric heat generating and transferring means within said outer casing for heating said water contained in said reservoir. 
     
     
       4. The device according to claim 3, wherein said heat generating and transferring means comprises two parallel conducting plates. 
     
     
       5. The device according to claim 3, wherein said heat generating and transferring means comprises an electric coil. 
     
     
       6. The device according to claim 1, wherein said outlet conduit means has a ratio of of its length to its diameter which is greater than about 3. 
     
     
       7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the hydraulic diameter of said steam outlet opening is between 0.1 cm and 1.5 cm.